Belt looper apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for taking an elongated piece of material and for cutting the same in predetermined lengths. The cut pieces are folded to have one or two bent ends to serve as a belt loop. The folded loops are sequentially delivered to a sewing machine where they are sewn by an operator.

United States Patent Anderson et al.

' Filed:

BELT LOOPER APPARATUS Inventors: Sven Anderson, Clearwater, Fla;

Anthony Lombardo, Bayshore, N.Y.

Assignee: The Duplan Corporation, Winston- Salem, NC.

Oct. 30, 1970 Appl. No.: 85,581

US. Cl. ..1l2/12l.27, 112/104, 112/130, 270/61 R Int. Cl. ..D05b 23/00 Field of Search...1 12/121.27, 121.26, 2,121.11, 112/121.l2,121.15,104,147,130,152, 141, 203, 262, 265; 270/61 R, 86, 78;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Rosenthal ..270/61 R [451 Oct. 24, 1972 Piepenbring-et a1. ....270/6I R 3,482,537 12/1969 Morin ..1 12/104 3,094,084 6/ 1963 Hedegaard l 12/ 104 2,158,144 5/1939 Oskow ..270/61 R X 2,730,976 l/1956 Loden ..1l2/12l.27 X 2,986,298 5/1961 Meyer et al 156/538 X 3,377,972 4/1968 Cohen et al. ..1 12/104 3,513,791 5/1970 Fulp ..1l2/l04 Primary Examiner.lames R. Boler Attorney-Brambaugh, Graves, Donohue & Raymond ABSTRACT Apparatus for taking an elongated piece of material and for cutting the same in predetermined lengths. The cut pieces are folded to have one or two bent ends to serve as a belt loop. Thefolded loops are sequentially delivered to a sewing machine where they are sewn by an operator.

' 30 Claims, 21 Drawing Figures PATENTEDucI 24 m2 SHEET UZUF 18 INVENTORS SVEN ANDERSON ANTHONY LOMBARDO ATTORNEYS PATENTEDncI 24 1912 SHEET 03UF 18 Nm 0R SA mRB OEM TDO mNL W M 1 m T V.N A

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PATENTEDnm 24 1972 3 6 99 9 0 7 saw on or 18 FIG. 4

INVENTORS SVEN ANDERSON ANTHONY LOMBARDO PATENTEDncI 24 I972 SHEET OSUF 18 FIG. 6

mm m 8 R E D mm BY ANTHONY LOMBARK ATTORNEYS PATENTED 0m 24 m2 SHEET 070F 18 FIG. 8

' INVENTORS SVEN ANDERSON ANTHONY LOMBARDO ATTORNEY PATENTEDUCT 24 1972 SHEET 080F 18 INVENTORS SVEN AN D E R 30 N ANTHONY LOMBARDO ATTORNEYS PATENTEDUBI 24 m2 3. 699 .90 7

SHEET 110F- 18 INVENTORS PATENTED nm 24 I972 3.699 ,9 O T SHEET 12 0F 18 m T m V m wYNE Vb SVEN ANDERSON ANTHONY LOMBARDO mp 6E ATTORNEYS PATENTEDnm 24 I972 SHEET 1311f 18 FIG. 15

FIG 16" mn v 08M TRM mM v m Y H T VN SA QM? fTTORNYS PATENTED 0m 24 I972 SHEET 1 4 OF 18 lllllL INVENTORS SVE N ANDE R 50 N BY ANTHONY LOMBARDO PATENTED um 24 1972 saw 1 0F 18 O 2 l F INVENTORS SVEN ANDERSON ATTOR NEYS ANTHONY LOMBARDO BY 49; W! 9 BELT LOOPER APPARATUS In the manufacture of various articles of clothing, for example pants, dungarees and jeans, a number of belt loops must be sewn to the garment. The loops have one or two folded over ends. Where a loop has two folded ends, the stitch is made through the folded ends to the stitch is made through the one folded end at one end of the loop. At the other end of the loop, the stitch is made only through the top part of the loop.

The forming of either one of the types of loops has been, in the prior art, a time consuming process. Usually, lengths of material to be used as the loops are cut at one station. The operator sewing the loops to the garment would take a cut piece, stitch it at one end to the garment and then manually fold over the remaining portion of the piece. The free end of the piece is then folded over and stitched to the garment. Since all of these operations are performed manually, the cost of the garment is raised materially.

The present invention relates to apparatus for automatically forming loops from a elongated piece of material and for delivering the loops sequentially to the sewing machine. In accordance with the the invention, the apparatus includes a station where the individual pieces of material are cut; a station where the cut pieces of material are formed into a loop having one or two bent ends and a mechanism for delivering the loops to the sewing machine. The apparatus also includes an arrangement for shifting the needle of the sewing machine from one end of the loop to the other while still holding the loop in a folded condition.

The apparatus of the invention is fully automatic in the sense that the operator no longer has to touch any part of the material to form the loop. The speed of delivery of the folded loops from the apparatus to the sewing machine is under the control of the operator, preferably by the use of pedals or treadles which are a part of the sewing machine. It has been found that the apparatus can fold and deliver loops to the sewing machine at a rate which is considerably faster than what can be accomplished manually. This increases the speed at which the sewing machine operator can work and thereby decreases the end cost of the garment.

It is therefore an object of the present invention for providing apparatus which can automatically cut pieces of a predetermined length from an elongated piece of material and fold these pieces into loops.

A further object is to provide apparatus which can form loops and deliver the loops to a sewing machine.

Another object is to provide apparatus for sequentially forming loops of material from an elongated piece of material and for sequentially delivering the loops to a sewing machine and holding them while they are sewn to a garment.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reference to the following specification and annexed drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an overall side elevational view of one embodiment of the machine;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the machine looking along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 1 and showing the loop forming and loop transfer mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a top view showing the tape feed mechanism taken along the line 44 of FIG. 1;

, garment. Where a loop has only one folded end the FIG. 5 is a cross-section view of the tape feed mechanism of FIG. 4 taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the front portion of the carriage for transporting cut pieces of tape from the tape supply to the loop forming mechanism and of the tape cutting mechanism looking along lines 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a side view in cross-section of the mechanism for moving the tape from the supply to the cutter;

FIG. 8 is across-sectional view of the mechanism of FIG. 7 taken along lines 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the loop forming jaws taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the mechanism for delivering folded loops from the jaws to the sewing machine taken along lines 10-10 of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are views similar to FIG. 3 showing a portion of the delivery system and the loop forming jaws in a different position;

FIGS. 13 and 14 are side views similar to FIG. 9 of the loop forming jaws and a portion of the delivery system shown in different positions of operation;

FIG. 15 is a section -view of the mechanism for delivering folded loops from the jaws to the sewing machine taken along the line 15-15 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 16 is a view in section similar to FIG. 15, but showing the mechanism for delivering folded loops in position for sewing the loop;

FIG. 17 is a top plan view of a portion of another embodiment of mechanism for transporting a folded loop from the folding station to the sewing machine;

FIG. 18 is a side elevational view, in cross-section, along lines 18-18 of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a front view, partially in cross-section, of a portion of the loop delivery mechanism and a portion of the sewing machine;

FIG. 20 is a top view, in cross-section, along lines 20-20 of FIG. 19; and

FIG. 21 is a side elevational view partly in cross-section, of the mechanism of FIG. 20.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE MACHINE FIG. 1 shows a general overall view of the machine, the various portions of which are described in detail below.

The machine is mounted on a base B and includes a supply reel 1 for fabric material mounted on a frame support 2. The fabric material on the reel 1 is usually in the form of a narrow tape T, for example from about one-quarter to 1 inch wide which is to be used for making loops for such articles as pants, dresses, etc., through which a belt is to pass. The term tape is used to designate all types of material of any width or length.

It should be understood, however, that the machine will form loops from material of any manageable width which is consistent with the design of the apparatus. Also, instead of using a roll of material, lengths of the material can be used, for example in the order of one to several feet long, for short runs of making the loops or for better shade, color, matching or pattern matching. The purpose of the machine is to take the tape T, which is fed in a continuous web, cut it into predetermined lengths, fold the predetermined lengths with one or two bent-under ends and then to deliver the completed bent loop to a sewing machine station. 

1. Apparatus for forming belt loops comprising means for cutting pieces of material from a longer piece, means for feeding a predetermined length of said material from an elongated web to said cutting means, a carriage having at least one member thereon around which an end of a cut piece can be folded, said feeding means feeding said material onto the said member, and means for folding at least one end of a cut piece to form a loop.
 2. Apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising means for moving said carriage from one location to said folding means.
 3. Apparatus as in claim 2 further comprising means at said folding means for removing the piece of material of predetermined length from the carriage.
 4. Apparatus for forming belt loops comprising means for cuTting pieces of material from a longer piece, and means for folding at least one end of a cut piece to form a loop, said folding means comprising at least one arm, at least one jaw, at least one member on which a piece of material is located, means for bringing the piece of material and said arm into engagement for partially folding an end of the piece of material around said member, and means for bringing said end of the piece of material and said jaw into engagement for completing the folding of said end of the piece of material around said member.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 4 further comprising a carriage on which said member is located, and means for moving the carriage from a first location where a cut piece of material is located on said member to said folding means.
 6. Apparatus as in claim 4 further comprising clamp means, means for operating said clamp means to remove a folded loop from the jaw.
 7. Apparatus as in claim 5 further comprising clamp means, means for operating said clamp means to remove a folded loop from the jaw.
 8. Apparatus as in claim 4 further comprising means for operating said jaw to remove the folded loop from said member, clamp means, and means for operating said clamp means to remove the folded member from said jaw.
 9. Apparatus as in claim 8 further comprising means for moving said clamp means to deliver the folded loop to another location.
 10. Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said other location is a sewing machine further comprising means at said sewing machine for holding said folded loop after delivery by said clamp means, said moving means being operated to remove the clamp means from said sewing machine after said holding means is operated.
 11. Apparatus as in claim 10 further comprising means at said sewing machine for moving said holding means as said loop is being sewn.
 12. Apparatus as in claim 4 further comprising means for moving said arm in a first direction to engage the piece of material, and means for moving said jaw in the opposite direction to engage said end of the piece of material.
 13. Apparatus for forming belt loops comprising means for cutting pieces of material from a longer piece, and means for folding at least one end of a cut piece to form a loop, said folding means comprising a pair of spaced pins on which a piece of material is located, and means for engaging the piece of material to wrap the ends of the piece of material around said pins.
 14. Apparatus as in claim 13 wherein said engaging means comprises a pair of jaws, and means for moving said pair of jaws to said pair of spaced pins in paths such that said jaws engage the piece of material and wrap the ends thereof around said pins.
 15. Apparatus for forming belt loops comprising means for cutting pieces of material from a longer piece, means for folding at least one end of a cut piece to form a loop, means for delivering the folded loop to a sewing machine, said delivery means being operated to retract from said sewing machine prior to the commencement of the sewing action, and means for operating said folding means to provide a loop to said delivery means during the sewing of the loop at the machine.
 16. Apparatus for forming belt loops comprising means for cutting pieces of material from a longer piece, and means for folding at least one end of a cut piece to form a loop, wherein said folding means comprises a pair of arms, a pair of jaws, a pair of members on which a piece of material is located, means for bringing the piece of material and said pair of arms into engagement for partially folding the ends of the piece of material around said members, and means for bringing the ends of the piece of material and said pair of jaws into engagement for completing the folding of the ends of the piece of material around said members.
 17. Apparatus as in claim 16 further comprising means for moving said pair of arms in a first direction to engage the piece of material, and means for moving said pair of jaws in the opposite dirEction to engage the ends of the piece of material.
 18. Apparatus for forming belt loops comprising means for cutting pieces of material from a longer piece, means for feeding a predetermined length of said material from an elongated web to said cutting means, a carriage having a pair of spaced pins thereon around which both ends of a cut piece can be folded, means for bringing the material and said pins into operative relation, means for folding at least one end of the piece of material around a corresponding one of said pins to form a loop, and means to deliver the folded loop to a sewing machine.
 19. Apparatus for forming belt loops for use with a sewing machine for sewing the belt loops to a garment comprising means for cutting pieces of material from a longer piece, means for folding at least one end of a cut piece to form a loop, and means for delivering the folded loop to the sewing machine, said delivery means holding the folded loop while the loop is being sewn.
 20. Apparatus as in claim 19 further comprising guide means adapted to be mounted on the sewing machine so as to engage said delivery means after the folded loop has been delivered to the sewing machine.
 21. Apparatus as in claim 20 wherein said guide means include at least one pin, and said delivery means is formed with a socket adapted to receive said pin.
 22. Apparatus as in claim 21 wherein said guide means includes a pair of spaced pins adapted to be mounted on the sewing machine such that when one of said guide pins is received in said socket the folded loop is positioned for sewing one end thereof, and when the other of said guide pins is received in said socket the folded loop is positioned for sewing the other end thereof, and further comprising means for displacing said delivery means between positions in which said socket is in registry with said guide pins.
 23. Apparatus for forming belt loops for use with a sewing machine for sewing the belt loops to a garment comprising means for cutting pieces of material from a longer piece, means for folding at least one end of a cut piece to form a loop, a sewing plate adapted to be mounted on the sewing machine and adapted to receive the garment and each belt loop to be sewn thereto, means for delivering the folded loop to a position over said sewing plate, said delivery means being operated to retract from the sewing machine prior to the commencement of the sewing action, means adapted to be mounted on the sewing machine for clamping the folded loop against relative displacement with respect to said sewing plate during the sewing action, and means for moving said sewing plate and said clamp means together in a first direction during the sewing action.
 24. Apparatus as in claim 23 wherein said moving means includes an arm adapted to be pivotally mounted on the sewing machine, said sewing plate and said clamp being mounted on said arm, the first direction in which said sewing plate and said clamp are moved being defined by the locus of said pivoted arm.
 25. Apparatus as in claim 23 further comprising means for moving said sewing plate and said clamp means together in directions substantially perpendicular to the first direction, whereby each end of the folded loop is sewn while said sewing plate and said clamp means are moved in the first direction, and the folded loop is transferred between positions for sewing the ends thereof by moving said sewing plate and said clamp means in the substantially perpendicular directions.
 26. Apparatus as in claim 25 wherein said first direction moving means includes an arm adapted to be pivotally mounted on the sewing machine, said sewing plate and said clamp being mounted on said arm, the first direction in which said sewing plate and said clamp are moved being defined by the locus of said pivoted arm, and further comprising a rod mounted for rotation with said pivoted arm, said rod being slidably mounted for movement in directions substantially perpendicular to the locus of said pivoted arm, aNd wherein said means for moving said sewing plate and said clamp means together in directions substantially perpendicular to the first direction includes means for sliding said rod in directions substantially perpendicular to the locus of said pivoted arm.
 27. Apparatus for sewing a piece of material to another material for use with a sewing machine comprising a sewing plate adapted to be mounted on the sewing machine and adapted to receive the other material and the piece of material to be sewn thereto, means for delivering the piece of material to a position over said sewing plate, said delivery means being operated to retract from the sewing machine prior to the commencement of the sewing action, means adapted to be mounted on the sewing machine for clamping the piece of material and the other material against relative displacement with respect to said sewing plate during the sewing action, means for moving said sewing plate and said clamp means together in a first direction during the sewing action, and means for moving said sewing plate and to directions substantially perpendicular to the first direction, whereby the piece of material and the other material may be sewn together in at least two mutually spaced apart areas.
 28. Apparatus as in claim 27 wherein said first direction moving means includes an arm adapted to be pivotally mounted on the sewing machine, said sewing plate and said clamp being mounted on said arm, the first direction in which said sewing plate and said clamp are moved being defined by the locus of said pivoted arm, and further comprising a rod mounted for rotation with said pivoted arm, said rod being slidably mounted for movement in directions substantially perpendicular to the locus of said pivoted arm, and wherein said means for moving said sewing plate and said clamp means together in directions substantially perpendicular to the first direction includes means for sliding said rod in directions substantially perpendicular to the locus of said pivoted arm.
 29. Apparatus for sewing a piece of material to another material comprising a sewing head including a needle reciprocatable along a predetermined path, a sewing plate mounted in operative relation to the needle path and adapted to receive the other material and the piece of material to be sewn thereto, means for delivering the piece of material to a position over said sewing plate, said delivery means being operated to retract from said sewing plate prior to the commencement of the sewing action, means for clamping the piece of material and the other material against relative displacement with respect to said sewing plate during the sewing action, means for moving said sewing plate and said clamp means together in a first direction during the sewing action, and means for moving said sewing plate and said clamp means together in directions substantially perpendicular to the first direction, whereby the piece of material and the other material may be sewn together in at least two mutually spaced apart areas.
 30. Apparatus as in claim 29 wherein said first direction moving means includes an arm pivotally mounted with respect to said sewing head, said sewing plate and said clamp being mounted on said arm, the first direction in which said sewing plate and said clamp are moved being defined by the locus of said pivoted arm, and further comprising a rod mounted for rotation with said pivoted arm, said rod being slidably mounted for movement in directions substantially perpendicular to the locus of said pivoted arm, and wherein said means for moving said sewing plate and said clamp means together in directions substantially perpendicular to the first direction includes means for sliding said rod in directions substantially perpendicular to the locus of said pivoted arm. 